Bathroom Repairs

I knew this day was coming. You know how it is. One day you notice that the drain is a little slow. The next day a little slower. One day the water starts backing up in the sink. Will, I couldn't put it off any more. It was time to act. My time as Polly Plumber had arrived.
At least there wasn't a lot of "brown" water backed up. Just a trap full of hair all tangled up into a huge ball of yuk. I'm glad for PVC pipe that is easy to take apart and put back together.
All done. Water running freely now. It just takes a few moments. Why did I wait so long? Mmmmm..... don't answer.
While I'm here, I'll show you the bathroom.

This is the sink the I just fixed. We found an old shabby table, cut a hole, and dropped the sink in. There is plenty of room on the table to set things. The table is as we found it except for the stenciling around the edges.The stenciling on the table matches the stenciling around the ceiling. Both table and mirror were found at a flea market.
I love the old claw foot tub! We all take our turn soaking. My 17 years old just took a 2 hour soak after last nights track meet. The tub is original to the house. The wainscoting around the tub is a little shabby from over 100 years of water and soap splashing on it. I believe it wears it's misuse well. We added shaker pegs to hang candles, towels, and whatever one would want within reach when in the tub. The small bench is handy for holding a book and cup of cocoa.
Many times, when soaking after a long day working in the garden, I'll light the oil lamps and candles placed around the room. There is a warm cozy glow reflecting off the marionberry colored walls.
The old coke crate sits atop the toilet, holding little nick knacks and a tin of soap.
An old wash tub sits on a cupboard full of bathroom necessities.
The room has changed very little from when the house was built is 1892. So when life seems like it's going too fast, I just come in here, run some water, and enjoy the feeling of when life was slower, and renew my energy with reflection.

Anniversary Weekend

Oregon Coast U. S. 101, one of the loveliest roads to travel. There are the very tourist towns, the very unique, and the depressed areas trying to catch up.

Most of the time, the coastline holds our attention.


The road winds around huge rocks, and cliffs at the edge of the ocean.

We decide to stop at Twin Rocks. The beach is wide and streaches for miles north and south.
Gerry always finds a walking stick first.


Then we find a place for a fire.



We walk the beach and marvel at this wonderful creation.


Then we sit and talk about where we have been and where our future will lead, and watch the waves roll in. The weather was nice, but not warm enough to bring the crowds to play in the water.
At the close of the day we found a Italian Restaurant in Wheeler, and ate wonderful pasta by candlelight. It has been 21 years of marriage. Our life has been very full. We have eight wonderful children. We have weathered various health issues from major back injuries to brain tumors. Completing post-graduate degrees, and starting businesses. Life's ups and downs, pain, sorrow, and great joy. So on this twenty first anniversary I say "I am blessed", and "God is faithful." I am looking forward to the next twenty or thirty.

Fabric Hostage

I have been in denial! I've thought of myself as a person
who is honest with myself. I haven't been.
I thought of myself as a fairly disciplined person. I'm not.
I want to say I was a hostage, I wasn't.
No, it was pure impulse. Impulse.
I was in JoAnns. I was just going to buy some sewing machine needles, nothing else. Then my eye roved over the fabrics, looking at the wonderful spring colors. Much of the time I'm happy to just look and absorb the emotion of colors and texture. This time I allowed impulse to grab me. I have to admit that I didn't try to resist very much. It was a color I usually don't attach to, so I'm still mystified why the impulse was so strong. There it was, a light aqua with aqua/white embroidered flowers. So sweet. I bought some. Then, what to do??? The color would look awful on me. It would look great on Sara, but it's too delicate for her taste right now.


It would make a lovely little girl dress and bloomers outfit.

Here it is. Ready for some little girl who is size 18 months.
The overdress has an underskirt of white batiste sewn with six pin tucks. The bloomers have an elastic waist, and are straight leg. Some lucky girl will look darling.

So I rationalize buying the fabric by saying it was business.
I'll post it to my etsy shop, d'Jean's, next week. Right after I'm back from the beach (Gerry is abducting my for our anniversary).

A New Calender Page

Aah! A new month! Already???
Sometimes it takes me a couple of days to remember that I need to change the calender page.
Life isn't really going that fast is it? Oh well, here we are, already the 4th. I like March. Here in the Northwest, it's not so lionish. It's rather wet, but we have those dry moments when we can run outside and play or garden. All the plants are coming to life. The bright spots of crocus, now the daffodils, the violets in the grass are sweet, the buds on the trees getting fat and ready to burst out. Spring life is exploding, being released from it's sleep of winter.

Weekend Review

Have you ever spent a weekend with 27 ladies making quilts together? That's what I did last weekend. Wow! What fun! Of course, we did other things too. Shopping, talking, walking, playing in the sand, shopping, talking.....did I mention shopping?
My favorite is this little quilt with the pinwheel. The pinwheels are prairie points that stand up from the quilt.






I really like the little taggies. I know they have been around a long time, but they are fun to make from little scraps of soft or slick fabric, and little bits of ribbon. This one has ribbon loops and satin prairie points. There was a baby there this weekend. Abby tested and approved everything.

We were able to make 21 quilts and a pile of burp cloths and several taggies.

It was a great way to spend a weekend, helping new mothers, and deepening friendships.

Sewing Weekend

My bags are packed, and I'm ready to go to the beach for the weekend with a wonderful group of ladies. I'm looking forward to building stronger relationships. I'm also looking forward to our projects. We are bring our sewing machines, rulers, pins, scissors, and fabrics. We will be making baby quilts and burp cloths for girls who need extra love in this time of their lives, and help for their coming babies. It's a hard road for these girls, and we want to encourage, mentor, and be there for them. I look forward to a beautiful weekend in spring, when new life is blooming and celebrated.

No plastic

I finally did it! I made it home from grocery shopping without adding to the plastic bag collection (except for the bread bags). I've been working on this for quite some time. First, I replaced all the big bags. I would have my bags with me for a couple of weeks then the next time forget them. I don't know how many times I've had to go running back to the car to get the bags, praying that my cart would not disappear. Then I started getting mesh bags for produce. I finally started carrying other bags for others kinds of shopping - like for fabric. Grocery stores are use to this, and are encouraging us bring bags. Other stores are still surprised to see someone with their own bag.
My favorites are the New Seasons bag, because it is so roomy. The red and black Trader Joe's bag is insulated and works great for juices and ice cream. Then the cloth bag from Germany. That was my first bag. People there have been using their own bags for years. My first time in a store there, the checker looked at me and wondered why I didn't have my own bag. What took me so long to practice this behavior?
I love the idea of a sustainable life. I also realize how difficult it is to change how we have grown use to doing things. I pray that I will be willing to acknowledge the things that still need to change in my life in that area and be willing to do what needs to happen to put it into practice.